By day, Sarah Griffith is a history professor at Queens. On the weekends, she’s a bicycle superhero.

Griffith recently spoke to the Chronicle about the way she balances bicycles and the classroom.

“In my late teens I got a road bike and so I raced road bikes from when I was in my late teens to my twenties and did triathlons. So I’ve always biked, I’m very comfortable on a bike, and I commute everywhere. It was when I moved to Charlotte five years ago that some friends said, ‘Oh, why don’t you come out, we’ll go and ride some mountain bike trails.’ I thought, ‘Oh okay, I hadn’t done that in forever.’ I was trying to meet people and I just fell in love with it because the trails are much better kept here. They’re groomed and it was the kind of mountain biking that we never had in Oregon and so I jettisoned the road racing and just dove headlong into mountain bike racing.

“It started just as fun, but I guess I am a little competitive and so two years ago I raced in a winter series, where you race every Sunday for five weeks. It turned out that I did very well and so I got sponsored by a shop here called Spoke Easy.

“I do really try to encourage my students, because they will come to me and say, ‘I am freaking out and I’m actually maybe having some, you know, mild mental health problems with feeling like there’s too much to do in too little time.’ I just try to reinforce and say, ‘Hey, you know, you’re in great company and I feel that a lot of times too, but make sure that you find downtime.’”

Anybody who went to Dickson Field to watch a Queens men’s soccer game this season and picked up a program would notice that Queens, and often the opponents, fielded a number of international players. This is a big increase from decades past.

When Queens coach Oliver Carias, from Guatemala, played for Queens in 2001, he was the only international player on the roster, and one of only five international student-athletes across campus.

Carias says the change from a small international presence to a big one is positive. Both the Americans and the international players benefit from experiences together, says Carias. The exposure to different cultures creates developmental opportunities for players. Although the season finished well before then, many international players ate Thanksgiving dinner with the families of their American teammates, Carias said, evidence of the lasting relationships they are building.

A multicultural team also introduces a mix of languages. While there is a policy in practices of only using English, actual matches are a little different.

While players may find it more comfortable to speak their native language in a competitive environment where they have to think quickly, Carias says, more often than not they are speaking English during games. This is a result of on-field players speaking multiple different languages, but teammates tend to speak to each other in their native languages on the sidelines and in the locker room.

Carias says his players know better than to test the referees with languages other than English. Profanity toward the officials is a yellow card, and there is always a chance a referee could know the same languages.

Queens does not specifically look to recruit international players, said Carias, “[We] look for the best fit for our culture, style of play, and for what Queens is.”

Carias says Division II soccer is a great opportunity and fit for international players. They tend to not care as much about being in a small school in a small town, as he says international players are normally just excited to be in the United States.

The level of play in Division II soccer is really good, says Carias, as many DII schools – including Queens – beat DI schools when they play each other.

Rabbi Judy Schindler took part in the silent protest held on campus after the Keith Lamont Scott shooting.

Rabbi Judy Schindler is paving the way to a bigger space for diversity at Queens University of Charlotte.

Rabbi Schindler is Charlotte’s first female Rabbi. Before coming to Queens she was the head Rabbi of Temple Beth El, a Reform branch of Judaism. She is an associate professor of Jewish Studies at Queens and is the Director of the Stan Greenspon Center for Peace and Social Justice. The goal of the Stan Greenspon center is, “appreciating differences, embracing inclusion, and working for justice,” a tagline created by Rabbi Schindler.

Rabbi Schindler said she left Temple Beth El because she didn’t have enough time to study as her job required she take care of numerous people and constantly kept her on her feet or in the temple. She made the decision that she would leave Temple Beth El at the age of 50 so she could start a new chapter in her life and continue to study in the ways she wanted.

“I’m really happy here because I get to study, and write and teach, and be inspired by these amazing students,” Rabbi Schindler said. “But I also get to be really connected with the Charlotte community and bring students into the community and bring the community into Queens.”

Rabbi Schindler can be found in her office surrounded by light and books, making the office feel at home. The multiple degrees she’s earned are hung proudly on the wall and though the office may not be the largest, it certainly feels very roomy.

Rabbi Schindler is working towards a diversity center that is more inclusive. She hopes that all diversity groups will be a part of the center. Right now the center is base to the Hillel group, the Jewish life on campus and LEAD, a support program for first generation students. The Diversity Inclusion and Community Engagement (DICE) lounge is for every student and she would like to see more presence from the groups.

“Our goal is to get Queens students out in the community and to make a difference,” said Rabbi Schindler.

“Being Jewish is my difference,” she said. “That makes me who I am. It’s an important part of my identity.”

The Stan Greenspon Center is responsible for four areas; Jewish Life, Jewish Studies, Holocaust and Human Rights education and Social Justice. Each year there is an initiative where the center chooses a topic and educates and advocates for it. This year the topic is refugees and an eight-week program is in place to teach the students and community about the issues and how to advocate for change.

Talli Dippold, assistant director of the Stan Greenspon Center, is responsible for two of the branches, Jewish life and Holocaust and human rights education. Rabbi Schindler is her boss, her colleague and for a long time her Rabbi. Dippold speaks highly of Rabbi Schindler and says that she is a great influence at Queens who is creating more understanding about issues on campus and in the city.

“Rabbi Judy is a connector of people,” Dippold said. “She’s a connector of communities.”

“The problems of our society are really overwhelming,” Rabbi Schindler stated. “What’s great about Queens is that, while we may not be able to solve things globally, or even nationally, we can transform where we are.”

Rabbi Schindler speaks excitedly when talking about Queens students and the Stan Greenspon Center’s future. The center was opened during August of this year and has made some progress but still has room to grow and a larger audience to affect.

“I think she can make a great impact on this campus,” Simon Hirschhorn, president of Hillel and student at Queens said. “And I think she’s starting to.”

“Queens students are our future, and what an awesome honor to be able to be a part of their lives at this point in their journey,” Rabbi Schindler stated with a huge smile on her face.

Rabbi Schindler hopes the Stan Greenspon Center for Peace and Social Justice will be part of the growth of Queens and that it may enable the Queens community to embrace differences and inclusion and also work towards social justice. She hopes the center will be able to work with the community to truly be able to make a difference on campus and in the city.

Rabbi Schindler is proud of the dynamic students here at Queens. She seemed ecstatic at the reception the students have had at the refugee panels and was impressed with the participation of the students and what they’ve added to the program.

“She’s a force to be reckoned with,” Dippold describes Rabbi Schindler. “She is one of the hardest working, most dedicated individuals that I know.”

]]>http://www.queens-chronicle.com/2016/12/02/rabbi-judy-schindler-proving-to-be-a-difference-maker-at-queens/feed/0Smoke from wildfires leaves Queens community coughinghttp://www.queens-chronicle.com/2016/11/28/smoke-from-wildfires-leaves-queens-community-coughing/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=smoke-from-wildfires-leaves-queens-community-coughing
http://www.queens-chronicle.com/2016/11/28/smoke-from-wildfires-leaves-queens-community-coughing/#respondMon, 28 Nov 2016 17:58:46 +0000http://www.queens-chronicle.com/?p=4097Several days of hazy, smoke-filled air caused concern mid-November on the Queens campus. As smoke from the distant wildfires in the western part of the state blew into Charlotte, both students and faculty noticed the change in air quality.

School nurse Jill Perry said that at its worst on November 16th, a Wednesday, the air was unhealthy for certain susceptible people. This includes those with asthma, pregnant women, people who work or exercise outside, and those who smoke. Student-athletes, who often practice outdoors and take heavy breaths, are also at risk when the air quality is poor.

Megan Wilson, a Queens student and admissions advisor for the Hayworth School who has asthma, felt the effects of the poor air quality on that Wednesday. Wilson said, “As soon as I walked out of the house, I was coughing.” She can remember her commute was particularly bad that morning, as she was wheezing on her way to campus. While she rarely uses her inhaler, Wilson had to use it that day.

The following day, in which there was a little haze but significantly less, was much better for Wilson. While she could still smell the smoke, there was not nearly as much pressure in her chest and she wasn’t coughing near as bad. While she didn’t need to use it, she kept her inhaler on her that day just in case.

The spread of wildfires in the Fall rather than a warmer time of year is particularly bad for Wilson. Her asthma is aggravated by cold air, meaning the mornings had been particularly bad for her during that week.

As the week went on things went better for Wilson. She often had other people run errands around campus for her so she could stay inside. According to Jill Perry, this was a wise decision. In an earlier interview Perry said about poor air quality, “The best way to protect yourself is to stay indoors.”

Besides staying indoors, Perry had other advice on how to stay safe when the air quality gets bad. She says to stay hydrated and to avoid lighting candles or firewood, as both candles and burning wood only add to the particles and chemicals already in the air.

Unless LeDayne Polaski is reading or doing the daily crossword puzzle, she is rarely sitting still. One moment she could be shaking hands with church leaders and the next moment she’s conversing with heads of states as an advocate for the people.

LeDayne Polaski

“Peace is the presence of justice for all,” Polaski said.

Polaski is one of several religious leaders in the neighborhoods near Queens that play integral roles in the unification of the community in the wake of the Keith Lamont Scott shooting. Since 2015, Polaski has been executive director of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America, a group she has worked with for 18 years.

Russ Dean, co-pastor of Park Road Baptist Church, reflected on the time he met Polaski as a freshman in college. He said her tenaciousness never faltered through the years.

One of her embraced passions is working for the inclusion of homosexual people in the church and society. She was the co-editor of “Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth,” a resource for progressive Baptist churches in having conversations about the inclusion of homosexual men and women. According to pastor Russ Dean, she is a church member who led a “Family Issues Task Force” that passed a resolution opening the door to Park Road ministers officiating gay weddings.

When describing her work, she said, “we work to empower individuals, churches, and community groups to do the work they feel called to do toward peace rooted in justice.”

She leads with an outstretched hand regionally, nationally, and internationally. Her work with BPFNA is spread across the US, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Despite all of that, she is also active in Charlotte.

Recently, after the increased social awareness following the death of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte in late September, she and her staff participated in the protests and offered resources, training, and opportunities for people to grow in understanding to end police brutality, and to stand in solidarity with minorities.

William Haynes Jr. III, the youth coordinator of Park Road Baptist Church said he and Polaski marched together during the demonstrations in Charlotte. He said he has admired her willingness to be present for those marginalized in society.

She is currently focused on work to combat racism both in society as well as within the organization.

“It is painful to realize the ways in which we perpetuate the very things we work against… and yet we also recognize this work as very necessary,” she said.

Last month she was awarded the Richard Furman Baptist Heritage Award, which recognizes a Furman graduate who makes life-changing commitments to develop and expand the relationship between faith and learning.

Pastor Russ Dean summed her up when he said, “she is a living example of the adage, ‘peace like war, must be waged.’”

]]>http://www.queens-chronicle.com/2016/11/17/a-nearby-religious-activist-seeks-unity-after-the-scott-shooting/feed/0Mowrey continues making a positive impact at Queenshttp://www.queens-chronicle.com/2016/11/16/mowrey-continues-making-a-positive-impact-at-queens/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mowrey-continues-making-a-positive-impact-at-queens
http://www.queens-chronicle.com/2016/11/16/mowrey-continues-making-a-positive-impact-at-queens/#respondThu, 17 Nov 2016 02:41:37 +0000http://www.queens-chronicle.com/?p=4091A look into Dr. Diane Mowrey’s office on the second floor of Watkins could serve the purpose of a profile in itself. Her dog, Maeve, happily pads across her office, posters of Dr. Martin Luther King are displayed on the walls, while flyers for religious events on campus cover the door.

Dr. Mowrey serves as chaplain for the university and often accompanies students on international trips. She also played a role in the silent protest that took place on campus shortly after the officer-involved shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, as she led a prayer near the end.

Holly Lane

Dr. Mowrey leads a prayer during a vigil held after the death of Keith Lamont Scott.

Dr. Mowrey was asked to be a part of the event, but she is quick to point out that her role was not one of leading or organizing. “I was just a cheerleader,” Mowrey said, reminiscing on the leadership the students involved took.

Her outreach efforts don’t just stop with work on campus, however. That Sunday, Dr. Mowrey went to uptown with local clergy members to play a peacekeeping role during potential protests, although that night turned out to be pretty quiet.

As chaplain, Dr. Mowrey is both a religious leader and a teacher. She says she has to challenge and nurture both professors and student to look at their own selves and spirituality to find what they do and don’t believe for themselves.

As university students across the country become less religious than in previous years according to Pew Research Center, Mowrey sees the challenge in her role as students talk about not believing in anything rather than believing in something different. However, she still engages them in discussion about the subject to fulfill a similar role. Mowrey says the campus is enriched by its religious diversity, as there are more Muslim and Jewish students at Queens than ever before.

In fact, Dr. Mowrey often works with the other religious leaders on campus to create programs together. In fact, one program they are working on is “Interfaith Text Talks”, in which those participating discuss what different religious texts say about topics such as food, afterlife, the environment and so on.

The cooperation between campus religious leaders should only get better as all the faiths on campus will benefit from the Pamela Davies Center for Faith and Outreach, the end result of renovations for Belk Chapel. Dr. Mowrey is most excited about the facility’s prayer and mediation room, which she said will provide for, “a place that is quiet.” The center’s kitchen and lounge area will welcome all students of all faiths and beliefs, says Mowrey. There will also be showers to provide for a better experience for guests doing Room at the Inn, which will move to the Davies Center.

It would be a mistake to leave international travel out of a profile about Dr. Mowrey. “I’ll go almost anywhere,” she said, and almost anywhere she has indeed gone. Her travels include Guatemala, multiple places in Europe, China, Tibet, India, Nepal, Cuba and South Africa. Mowrey says that she is particularly interested in places that have been in conflict and are in some kind of process to overcome conflict. More specifically, she has an interest in the involvement of religion in such conflicts, both in being the justification for conflict and in being the solution to escape it.

As an example, Mowrey describes how many in South Africa used religion to justify apartheid, but that many also used religion to heal the nation after it. Guatemala, where Dr. Mowrey will be going for the 18th year in a row this Spring, has had conflicts between the high church Catholics and Mayan population. There is also Northern Ireland, which had been plagued by The Troubles, a conflict between the Protestants and Catholics there. Of all the places she has studied and visited, she finds the case of Northern Ireland and The Troubles to be the most fascinating.

Regardless of where she goes, Dr. Mowrey always tries to use her experiences and what she learns from her international travel to try and better the Queens community.

]]>http://www.queens-chronicle.com/2016/11/16/mowrey-continues-making-a-positive-impact-at-queens/feed/0Queens gets its own Justice League in the form of social justice-minded studentshttp://www.queens-chronicle.com/2016/11/12/queens-gets-its-own-justice-league-in-the-form-of-social-justice-minded-students/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=queens-gets-its-own-justice-league-in-the-form-of-social-justice-minded-students
http://www.queens-chronicle.com/2016/11/12/queens-gets-its-own-justice-league-in-the-form-of-social-justice-minded-students/#respondSat, 12 Nov 2016 18:46:25 +0000http://www.queens-chronicle.com/?p=4088

The silent protest organized by the students wrapped around Trexler Courtyard.

As tensions rose after the police shooting death of Keith Scott in late September, four students came together in Trexler Courtyard to develop a silent protest and vigil.

Now, a month later, those students — Hiwot Hailu, Callie Malone, Jocelyn Purdie, and Rachael Chestnut — are still working to create a dialogue around police brutality. It is a movement that Hailu and friends playfully refer to as the ‘Justice League’.

As the first of her Ethiopian family to be born in America, Hailu had always been exposed to ideas of social justice.

“My whole family kind of does this,” said Hailu. “I think it’s always just been in my mind and in the environment that I’m in. So, when the opportunity presented itself to make my voice heard, I jumped on it.”

Hailu found her voice shortly after the death of Keith Lamont Scott. Mr. Scott was shot and killed by a Charlotte police officer, rekindling the argument that police officers use lethal force too liberally, specifically when dealing with African-American men.

What started out as a discussion between Hailu and her friends over coffee turned into a movement they were proud of. “We actually came together the morning after Keith Scott was killed. I had come from my morning class,” says Callie Malone, a student from Tallahassee, Florida, double majoring in creative writing and English literature. “We started talking about having some kind of vigil, demonstration, or something to have on campus so people could mourn and process together. Then Hiwot walked up, and we started talking to her about it. And then Rachael. Next thing I knew, we were up in Morrison organizing.”

The four undergraduates wrote up their plan of action in Morrison and started making signs, texting all their friends to spread the word and come out and support their demonstration.

“We weren’t thinking it was gonna be a lot of people. So the fact that we were able to wrap around Trexler was huge for us,” said Jocelyn Purdie, junior English major and cheerleader from Charlotte.

The vigil had its share of feedback, positive and negative. For some organizers, pushback is a kind of affirmation.

“We had a few people that weren’t necessarily a part of the demonstration, that felt differently about what’s going on,” Purdie continued, “You’re always gonna get backlash. I feel like if you don’t get backlash then you’re not doing something right.”

Others, however, are still getting their sea legs with organizing movements like this.

“It’s really emotionally taxing for people to keep doing advocacy work,” said Malone. “We’re working on a panel right now and possibly putting some art around Charlotte and Queens to promote awareness, but we’re struggling to juggle all of this with midterms, work, practice, and school.”

Members of the Justice League have noticed discussion has died down and encourage further conversations to be held on police brutality. “It’s not just me or a group demanding something,” said Hailu. “We want to be able to discuss what it is that’s happening.”

Students were encouraged to meet at Evans Clock Tower throughout the day on Election Day to walk to the polls together.

Social justice and immigration top the list of issues that are driving Queens students and staff to the polls.

In about 100 interviews earlier today, the day before Election Day, members of the Queens community said that they would cast their votes based on issues such as police brutality, women’s rights and HB2.

“I am voting because being a black woman so many people fought and died so I could vote,” said Faith Anthony, a junior Spanish major from Charlotte, NC. She said the most important issue to her is social justice in the work place because she will be entering the workforce next year and wants her rights ensured.

Of the 105 students and faculty polled, 87 said they were going to vote tomorrow or they had voted early or voted by absentee ballot.

Other issues students said mattered to them were healthcare, taxes and the environment. To a lesser extent some said they were voting because it was their civic duty. One student said they were voting, even though they thought both major party candidates were unqualified.

Faculty and administration have social justice and immigration on their minds as they head to the polls.

Sarah Fatherly, interim dean of the Knight School of Communication and assistant provost, said equal pay for men and women, and equal justice for minorities are her top issues.

“The most important is creating a balanced government in terms of having proper party regulation in the House and Senate,” said Brandon Johnson, 29, an athletic trainer at Queens.

Of the nonvoters, citizenship plays a role, but some registered voters choose not to vote.

Patrick Motter, assistant dean of students, said he would not be casting a ballot tomorrow.

“No I don’t vote,” he said, “I don’t keep up with politics because I’m not educated on the issues so I would just be voting on a popularity contest.”

This article was made through the joint effort of the COM 204 class taught by Mary Tabor. Credit for writing the article itself goes to Mason Farnan.

Campus planners hope the new Belk Chapel will help reinvigorate spiritual life on campus.

After years of planning, Belk Chapel is being renovated into a 2,500 square-foot multi-purpose center, estimated to be completed on May 1. According to representatives of spiritual life at Queens, the renovation has sparked both nostalgia and hope for spiritual life organizations.

Troy Luttman, associate vice president for design and construction, said the chapel is intended to be an inviting type of building, both figuratively and literally.

Luttman spoke about how they would preserve the individuality of the chapel while also introducing new initiatives.

“We’ve reinvented the building based on the current needs of the students,” he said.

The new addition to the chapel — The Pamela Davies Center for Faith and Outreach — will hold additional offices and meeting spaces for different spiritual life organizations.

The building is designed to be inviting for the disabled community. The space is more ADA (American Disability Association) accessible with multiple ramps, modified pews around the sanctuary, and with all restrooms being handicapped accessible.

The chapel will also be physically inviting with the new entrance and transparent doors. When the doors are swung open, students will be able to view a museum that tells the story of the Belks. The space is intended to be used for anything from a classroom to a wedding reception.

The entrance will also have a rotunda with a dome on top.

“It’ll be a special ornate space that allows just enough light to pour through the top of the dome,” Luttman said.

There will additionally be upgrades to the existing part of the chapel with new carpet, new paint, new lighting and new audio and visual components.

Bringing the faiths together

Hailey Kater, a senior and president of Catholics on Campus said she hoped the new space would centralize spiritual life on campus.

“When we had actual chapel services, that’s what I felt most people looked forward to,” Kater said, “and that’s gone downhill since we haven’t had actual chapel services.”

Recent graduates say spiritual life on campus is not as central as it once was. With more developments on campus such as the Levine Center, students tend to gravitate away from the chapel.

Brennan Shearer, a 2013 graduate, also looked back at how much the chapel influenced her Queens experience. She talked about how she felt that the chapel is a sacred space on campus and how important it is to her that they preserve the beauty of the building when they do the renovations.

Haynes is the seminary intern for the Belk Chapel as well as a 2011 graduate of Queens. He spoke about how it’s an exciting time for Queens with the changing landscape.

“We can include more voices and conversations about faith, social justice, and inclusiveness,” he said.

The idea behind the renovations was to serve the students and be more pluralist.

Dr. Diane Mowrey, university chaplain, said she is enthusiastic about the renovations.

As chaplain, Mowrey said she has always tried to appeal to all students, but the students are more diverse now. When she came to Queens 26 years ago there were only a handful of people who were not Christians and that demographic has shifted.

She said the new space would enable the chapel to connect to a broader range of students, faculty and staff.

“I wish it were done tomorrow,” Mowrey said.

]]>http://www.queens-chronicle.com/2016/11/01/will-the-new-belk-chapel-energize-spiritual-life-at-queens/feed/0Freon leak causes Wireman fire alarms to go offhttp://www.queens-chronicle.com/2016/10/28/freon-leak-causes-wireman-fire-alarms-to-go-off/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=freon-leak-causes-wireman-fire-alarms-to-go-off
http://www.queens-chronicle.com/2016/10/28/freon-leak-causes-wireman-fire-alarms-to-go-off/#respondSat, 29 Oct 2016 01:00:37 +0000http://www.queens-chronicle.com/?p=4076Shortly before noon Friday, Wireman Hall residents rushed out of the building to the sounds of fire alarms buzzing around the building. The fire department arrived to find no fire, instead discovering the alarms were set off by a freon leak from an air conditioning unit, said Amber Perrell, associate dean of students and residence life, in a Friday afternoon interview.

Perrell said that rather than pushing out air, the unit expelled freon in a manner that appeared to be smoke, setting off the alarms.

The fire department assessed the situation and determined “a circuit in the A/C unit had failed, although 3 of the unit’s 4 circuits are still working as they should,” Perrell said in a later email to Wireman residents.

She added that the circuit causing the problem was disabled and will be fixed next week.

Perrell said in the Friday interview that freon poses no danger to students unless “you stood there and huffed it in.” Despite that, staff erred on the side of caution and gave the building about 20 minutes to air out before allowing students back in, she said. Students were outside for a total of about 45 to 50 minutes, according to Perrell.

As far as Perrell is aware, maintenance is actively looking into this and the problem has been resolved. This is the second freon leak on campus in the last two weeks, with the other one occurring outside of Rogers Health and Science Building on October 18.